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Saturday, November 03, 2007
State of emergency declared in Pakistan
09:00 AM CDT, November 3, 2007
State of emergency declared in Pakistan
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan - President Gen. Pervez Musharraf declared a state
of emergency in Pakistan on Saturday ahead of a crucial Supreme Court
decision on whether to overturn his recent election win and amid rising
Islamic militant violence.
The government blocked transmissions of private news channels in several cities and telephone services in the capital, Islamabad, were cut. Dozens of police blocked the road in front of the Supreme Court building where judges were believed to be inside.
"The chief of army staff has proclaimed a state of emergency and issued a provisional constitutional order," a newscaster on Pakistan TV said, adding that he would address the nation later Saturday.
Musharraf, who took power in a 1999 coup, is also chief of the army.
The U.S. and other Western allies urged him this week not to jeopardize the country's transition to democracy. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, said Thursday the U.S. would not support any move by Musharaff to declare martial law. -- Source: Associated Press/Chicago Tribune, Matthew Pennington, can be found on the net at: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-110307-pakistan,1,7708156.story?track=rss
Edited on: Saturday, November 03, 2007 13:14.45
Categories: Counter-Terrorism, Political/Diplomatic/Economic